Burzum: Belus

Do you know Varg Vikernes?

Perhaps the pic above might jog your memory- Varg Vikernes was Mayhem's Count Grishnackh (left), convicted murderer of Euronymous (right) & arsonist. There's too much affliction when it comes to the man's blackened past (no pun intended), best understood when one is privy to both sides of the story, not just the media exposure.

Belus is an 11-year wait, a Burzum release quite unexpected as we perceive Vikernes' withdrawal from the music scene owing to his controversial persona, much touted by the media to contain racist inclinations. In fact, Belus is a censored replacement for the initial release title of  The White God (Den Hvite Guden), which, according to Vikernes is a reference to The White God of Europe aka Apollo/ Baldr/ Belobog, among others. What can we expect from Belus, a propagation of Burzum of yesterday? Much so & then some. Varg Vikernes made a conscious effort in propelling music as opposed to personal attention. He made it clear in a recent interview that music is first & foremost, the industry's label of his manifestations as black metal is really dead end labeling. However, upon hearing what Belus has to offer, black metal is an inevitable tag but this is signature Burzum where vexatious atmospherics take control. The concluding track, Belus' Return, is virtually a looped phrasing where subtle differences are peppered in as the song plays on, only discernible to the discriminating ear- that's how atmospheric things get in this collection. All in all, Belus draws its parallel to many unhurried black metal song structures akin to what Trelldom & Khold has to offer (citing 2 of many out there); with a judicious concoction of doom. I give Belus my thumbs up.

Insomnia... loving the lack of slumber.